Dispenser for liquid detergents



Dec. 28, 1954 F. FAHNOE DISPENSER FOR LIQUID DETERGENTS 2 Shets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 50, 1948 INVENTOR Frederick Fuhnoe B8 Luv (0W ATT Dec. 28,1954 F. FAHNOE 2,698,022

DISPENSER FOR LIQUID DETERGENTS Filgd Dec. :50. 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTQR Frederick Fuhnoe United States Patent DISPENSER FOR'LIQUID'DETERGENTS Frederick Fahnoe, Easton, Pa., assignor to General Aniline &Film Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationDecember 30, 1948, Serial No. 68,365

1 Claim. (Cl. 137-79) This invention relates to a dispenser for liquiddetergents and more particularly to a dispenser for liquid iliitergentsin an automatic dish washing machine and the Automatic dish washingmachines as well as automatic clothes washing machines and the likeoperate on an automatic cycle having, for example, the followingsequence of operation after the dishes have been loaded and the machinestarted in the case of a dish washing machine: Introduction of water ina pre-rinse period with the drain open, closing of the drain andintroduction of the water and detergent for the wash period, drainingand rinsing with water, and drying. In order to make the machineentirely automatic, some means is required to add a detergent at thebeginning of the wash period. Automatic devices for this purpose areknown, but they are devised for the introduction of solid detergents andthe present invention is directed to a device for the introduction atthe proper time of liquid detergent automatically.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid detergentdispenser.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a liquiddetergent dispenser in combination with an automatic washing machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a liquiddetergent dispenser in combination with an automatic washing machineadapted to deliver the liquid detergent only during the wash cycle ofthe machine.

These and other objects are attained by the present invention whereinthere is provided a receptacle adapted to hold a liquid detergent, openat the top and having an opening in the bottom and a closure therefor,which closure is operated by a thermal actuated bimetallic elementresponsive to the temperature of the water in the machine.

The drawings illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention, butit will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and thatsuch substitutions and variations as will be obvious to those skilled inthe art are included within the invention as defined in the appendedclaim.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser in closed position.

2 is a bottom view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionalview of the dispenser of Fig. 1 in an open position.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative device in a closedposition.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 4 in anopen position.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device shown inFigs. 1 to 3 comprises a vertical cylindrical receptacle 10, open at theupper end as Well as the lower end. The lower end is provided with aclosure 11 which is a thermal responsive bimetallic element. Thisbimetallic closure is generally disc-like in shape and adapted to becomeconvex or concave depending upon the temperature to which it issubjected as indicated by the open and closed position of Figs. 1 and 3,respectively. The disc, in effect, acts as a valve seat and has a snapaction when a predetermined temperature is reached for opening orclosing the receptacle. The disc is held in position by a pivot 12 whichis attached by means of arm 13 to the side of the dispenser 10',Twhereby it is keptaligned with the receptacle. For attachment to themachine the receptacle is provided with a hook 14, but it will beunderstoodzthat alternate attachingtmeansmay. be. used. In addition, thedisc 11 may be provided with a sealing and insulating composition 19adapted to keep the liquid from running out of the receptacle in closedposition and from cooling the disk to prevent it from operating.

Referring to the alternative device disclosed in Figs. to 6,. there isshown a cylindrical receptacle 20, open at the upper end and having anopening 21 at the lower end. This lower opening is adapted to be closedby a bimetallic strip 22, which may be provided with a valve seat 23. Inorder to prevent partial closing of the opening in the receptacle, thebimetallic strip 22 is retained in its upper or closed position by meansof hook 24 which is actuated by a spring 25. It will be understood thatby adjustment of the spring tension a variation in the delay time ortemperature at which the opening of the receptacle takes place may beeffected. For attachment to the machine the receptacle is provided witha hook 26, but it will be understood that alternate attaching means maybe used.

In Fig. 7 there is shown one of the known types of automatic dishwashing machines 15, with the dispenser of either Figs. 1 or 4 attachedinside the dish washing machine, for example, at the upper edge thereof.The details of the dish washing machine need not be described herein,since the particular arrangement of parts is not essential to thepresent invention and the machine is illustrated to show the combinationwith the dispenser. The location, however, of the dispenser is importantsince for proper operation it should avoid contact with the rinsingwater indicated as entering the machine by Valve 16 from the top center;only the water used for the washing cycle distributed through agitator17 should contact the dispenser, if any contact is made at all.

In the operation of the device the dispenser is filled with liquiddetergent and placed in the dish washer in a nearly vertical position.The machine is turned on and the initial rinse, while having a tendencyto raise the temperature within the machine, does not raise it to itsultimate temperature, so that the bimetallic elements in properadjustment will not yet be actuated. Introduction of the wash water, andpossibly some contact of this wash water with the bimetallic element,raises the temperature sufliciently to actuate the bimetallic elementsand permit the introduction of the liquid detergent into the machine.After the dish washing is completed, the cooling of the machine willcause the return of the bimetallic element to the closed position sothat the operation may be repeated.

In the device as illustrated the dispenser receptacle is open at thetop, but it will be understood that this is not essential and a topclosure could be applied. In addition, the receptacle need not becylindrical and various other shapes could be used. Furthermore, thedevice has been described as useful with liquid detergents, and it willbe understood that this would include solutions of solid detergents, andthe device may be used with solid detergents as well, but from theconstruction thereof it is most effectual with liquid detergents.

I claim:

An automatic liquid detergent dispensing device for use with anautomatic washing machine comprising a vertical cylindrical receptaclehaving an opening at the lower end thereof and a disc-like thermalresponsive snap-action bimetallic element which changes its shape fromconcave to convex and vice-versa when the temperature rises and fallsrespectively through a predetermined temperature, said element beingexternally secured in a fixed position just below the lower end of saidreceptacle and adapted to close and seal said opening below apredetermined temperature and to completely open it at saidpredetermined temperature by an aforesaid change in shape.

(References on following page) Number Name Date Whittelsey Mar. 20, 19175 Zimmerman Sept. 2, 1930 Radcliffe July 23, 1935 Ellis May 24, 1938Number Name Date Geisel Feb. 7, 1939 Parkins Aug. 27, 1940 Halsey Feb.11, 1941 Zinkil Feb. 3, 1942 Reid June 2, 1942 Chapman et a1 Sept. 9,1947 Graham July 25, 1950

